Federal 100: Joanie F. Newhart

The work: Building the capability and capacity of the government’s acquisition workforce.

The impact: Newhart’s efforts aim to reduce the risks associated with IT procurements and directly support the White House’s plan to reform federal IT management.

The nuts and bolts: Newhart led the development of two key Office of Federal Procurement Policy initiatives: a stringent certification program for contracting officer’s representatives and guidance for agencies in setting up cadres of acquisition professionals, which she did by identifying and adapting the best approaches of public and private organizations.

FCW investigated efforts by the departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs to improve a joint data repository on military and veteran suicides. Something as impersonal and mundane as incomplete datasets could be exacerbating a national tragedy.